Guitarist&#39;s steel bar



Aug. 4, 1953 c, SMITH 2,647,429

GUITARISTS STEEL BAR Filed March 21, 1951 (m/2.45s F 1 WSM/TH IN V EN TOR.

Patented Aug. 4, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,647,429 GUITARISTS STEEL BAR" Charles Fay Smith, Fort Worth, Tex.

Application March 21, 1951, Serial No. 216,739

Claims. (01. 84-319) This invention relates to a musicians steel bar for controlling the tones of stringed instruments, such as guitars, and operated along the strings of the instrument to efiect diiierent tones, and

the principal object of the invention resides in the provision of a means for properly holding the device while playing the instrument, and affording an arrangement whereby the bar can be manipulated with greater ease and comfort to the operator, and providing apparatus which can be properly adjusted or arranged according to the individual requirements of the musician.

It is an object of the invention to provide a handle, or rigid right-angularly arranged member, more readily adapting the steel bar to manipulation by a guitarist, and especially affording an arrangement whereby the steel bar can be manipulated and properly controlled by amateur, or unskilled musicians, and providing means whereby muscular tensions in the operators fingers may be relieved to insure skillful movement of the bar along the strings of the instrument since the bar can be more firmly grasped and manipulated with greater ease.

Broadly, the invention contemplates the provision of a simple and economical device by which the steel contact bar, manipulated along the strings of a guitar by musicians in playing socalled Hawaiian string music, can be firmly handled, and affording a device which may be readily attached to such devices which are commonly known to musicians of the type here under consideration.

While the foregoing objects are paramount, other and lesser objects will become manifest as the description proceeds, taken in connection with the appended drawings wherein:

Figure 1 illustrates, in elevation, a conventional steel bar showing the invention detachably secured thereto, and illustrating the operative positions of the device in dotted lines.

Figure 2 illustrates, in elevation, an end view of the bar and the control device attached thereto.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the invention shown attached to the steel bar.

Figure 4 is a perspective illustration of a tensioned clip adapted to embrace the conventional,

bar, and showing the holding and control device extending from the top thereof.

Figure 5 is an end elevational view of the invention in which the clip is shown attached to the bar, and illustrating the vertically adjustable arm on the L-shaped bracket, and v Figure 6 illustrates the invention in operation, showingthe manner in which the device is held 2 between the. index and middle fingers of the operator.

Accordingly, the invention comprises an L- shaped bracket I0 which has a normally vertical leg II and a horizontalleg I2, being pivotally connected to the conventional bar I3 by a screw I4, as illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3, or detachably and pivotally connected to a tensioned sleeve I5, shown in Figures 4 and 5, by the screw I4, as desired, but in either case, the bracket I0 is pivotal so that it can be arranged longitudinally of or transversely to the bar Ill.

The bracket I0 is formed with the legs II and I2, the latter being arranged at right angles to the clip or sleeve I5, and having the screw I4 arranged therethrough so that the leg I I can be rotated about the pivot I4 to any angular position relative to the bar I3, the leg I2 always projecting at right anglesfrom the clip I5, as illustrated in Figures .4 and 5. It is desirable that a boss I6 be formed about the threaded bore I! in the bar I3, or the aperture in the sleeve I 5, as apparent in Figures 1, 2 and 5, to provide for the free rotative movement of the bracket ID with respect to either the bar I3 or the sleeve I5.

It will become apparent that the bracket Ill may be pivoted to almost any angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bar I3, and thus be conveniently aligned with the operative plane of the fingers of the operator, as illustrated in Figure 6. The vertical leg II of the bracket I0 is employed between the index and middle fingers I8 and I9 of the operator, as indicated in Figure '6, while the horizontal leg I2 extends outwardly over the thumb 20. By holding the assembly in this manner the bar I3 can be raised, lowered and pivoted with a minimum of effort on the part of the musician.

An arm 2I extends at right angles, or horizontally from the vertical leg II of the bracket I0 and is conformable on its underside to the anterior of the operators fingers, as by a contour 22, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4. The arm 2| is adjustable vertically on the leg II in a longitudinal slot 23 in the latter and being secured by a screw 24. Thus the arm 2| can be moved to properly accommodate musicians having different size hands, or whose fingers vary in thick-- ness, enabling the invention to be employed by anyone desiring to use the same.

It is obvious that the tensioned member I I can be made in different diameters which adapt the structure to be applied to bars of different weights and diameters, according to the use to which the bar is to be applied, and the sleeves I I can be of 3 such material as to be highly tensioned so that the bar l can be securely held therein. It is apparent that the bracket [0 can be pivoted in a complete circle providing for use of the device by either rightor left-hand musicians.

Manifestly, the structure herein shown and described is capable of certain changes and modifications from time to time, by persons skilled in the art, without...departing fromrthe. spirit and intent of theinvention or thezsccpe "of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a holder device for a steel bar for playing stringed instruments, in combination-irwith said bar, a tensioned sleeve, cylindricalin transverse section, having a longitudinal 'division' along its underside providingifor;:expansibility, an L-shaped bracket pivotally arranged ,on the said sleeve opposite said, division so that one leg of, said bracket is. in transverse relationship to said sleeve; alongitudinal*slotinthe vertical leg of said bracket, and an arm arranged at right angles to said'verticallegand secured-by a; screw through said" slot, providing for adjustment": of said arm with respect to saidfsleeve. f 2; In a steel bar for controlling. the-tflnes'of stringed instruments; ahandlingrdeviccj pivotally connected tov said bar, the said handlingdevice comprising a right-angular bracket having 'a horizontal and. a vertical'leg, a; screw arranged through said horizontal legi'of said bracket providing saidpivotal.connectiontosaid bar; 8;.5101; formed longitudinally of said vertical leg, and an arm. arranged at right angles to said vertical leg and adjustable with respect to said-horizontal leg and said bar.

3,.In a musicians metalbarfor playing a guitar, in. combination with a round metal bar, a detachable holder comprising a; tensioned "clip conformable-to said harand: capable or slidably i formably embracing bracket pivotally connected with said clip so that none-.legofsaid bracket extends at right angles leg; and an arm attached to said right angularly extendingban adjustable in said slot with respect therefrom. a slot formed longitudinally of said to said clip.

5; In a'device for holding a steel bar for playing guitars, in combination with a musician's stringzbar, a=tensioned 'clip' formed substantially cylindrical and-capable of conformably embracing said' bar, an L shaped bracket formed with right angularl arranged legs, adetachable pivotal connectionofisaid bracketwvith said: clip near'tlie'inner 'end of one leg of said bracket, a longitudinal "slot formed "in' the opposite-leg of said bracket, an arm extending at right angles Iromsaid'opposite leg and a longitudinal "slot in said opposite leg whereby torigidly securesaid arm in adjusted: positions with respect to said clip.

"CHARLES'FAY SMITH.

rReferences' Cited: in'the' file "of 'this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,026,354 .-Mihalek Dec.- 31,1945 2,461,232 @Pulsifer Febvfi, 1-949 

